(ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ) -- The Atlantic Highlands Arts Council presents CONNECTIONS - a Painting Exhibition from January 13th to February 17th, 2024. This is an exhibition by three distinct voices from diverse backgrounds brought together through art and friendship. The artists include Richard Buntzen, Soody Neshatfar, and Anna "AJ" Wainright.
The individual approaches to painting by these three artists are seemingly unique, yet, through their admiration of each other's work and their mutual friendship, connections are everywhere to be found. The Atlantic Highlands Arts Council celebrates their work and the profound connections they have made with each other and in their art.
Richard Buntzen is an award winning freelance visual artist who works in oil and print media collage out of his studio space in Asbury Park. Formerly Richard was an Art Educator in the Alpine School District located in Bergen County, NJ. He earned his MFA Degree from New Jersey City University where he studied under the direction of Hugo Bastidas and Dr. Jose Rodeiro. Richard currently studies with Julie Friedman, Owner, and Director of ARTSPACE located in Morristown, New Jersey. Richard is a Signature Member with the National Collage Society. He is also a member of Maryland Federation of Arts, Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Atlantic Highlands Art Council, and The Pastel Salon of New Jersey. He has shown his work nationally as well as in several galleries and museums in both Central and South New Jersey.
Soody Neshatfar - The passion for visual art has always been a part of Soody’s life, but formally she started painting under the direction of Master Painter Marge Levine in the year 2000. She has participated in workshops with Master Pastelists Richard McKinley, Lyn Asselta, and Julie Friedman. Soody continues to study with Julie Friedman, working in both oil and pastel. She is a member of The Pastel Salon of New Jersey.
Anna “AJ” Wainright, PSA/MP, IAPS/EP - Anna is a National and International award-winning gallery represented artist. Driven to paint images that evoke a sense of weather and emotion as well as place, she is known for her atmospheric paintings. After 25 years in public service her pursuit of her dreams to be an artist began in 2007 with pastels as her preferred medium at the time. After years of work in that medium her efforts culminated in 2022 when she received the top award, Prix De Pastel, in the Master Division of the Pastel World Exhibition at the International Association of Pastel Societies Convention in New Mexico, where she also received Eminent Pastelist distinction as well. She also has Master distinction in the Pastel Society of America, as well as Signature in the American Tonalist Association and Associate in Oil Painters of America, NOAPS, and the American Impressionists Association. She has exhibited in two shows in China, and last year in Korea. She was recently featured in the “Conjuring the Landscape” article in the Jan/Feb 2021 issue of the Pastel Journal, as well as the publication “Pure Pastel: Contemporary Works by Today’s Top Artists” in 2019. She has received honorable mention several times in the Pastel 100, as well as second place overall in 2019. Her works have shown in museum exhibitions including the Butler Institute of American Art, OH; Slater Museum, Norwich, CT; and Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA. She has gallery representation at The Artful Deposit and Beacon Galleries in New Jersey, as well as resident membership at the Salmagundi Club in New York City.
There will be an Opening Reception on January 13, 2024 from 6:00pm-8:00pm (Rain/snow date January 27th).
The Atlantic Highlands Arts Council (AHAC) is located at 54 First Avenue in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. AHAC is committed to enabling all visitors to experience its classes and workshops, exhibitions, and public programs. They recognize the diversity of their community’s abilities and needs, and accommodations will be made to allow the fullest level of participation possible.
